Pneumatic steering device



May 23, 1933. E, R. HTCH r 1,910,690

PNEUMATIC STEERING DEVICE I Filed Oct. 11, 1928 INVENTOR ELLERY R. FITCH ATTORNEY Patented May 23, 1933 ELLERY a. men, or wnsrwoon,

M 3m COMPANY, OF WIL MEBDING,

mnsynvma rnnnm'rrc an Application filed October 1 automotive vesteering This invention relates to hicles and more articularly to the mechanism there or.

An object of the i 6 pneumatically opera automotive vehicles.

Another object of the invention is to provide the steering mechanism of automotive vehicles with pneumatically o erable means for facilitating the action 0 the steering wheel when the same is turne Another object of the invention is to provide an automotive steering mechanism of the character mentioned which is simple in 16 construction, and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service. 7

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements 'n the construction, 'arrangement and combination of. the several 20 parts of hich it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed. In the accompanying drawing; Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view, partly in section, of a pneumatic steering device embodying my 26 invention, showing-the same in a neutral position; Fig. 2 is a transverse se ction taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a detail section of a portion 0 f the rotary valve device showing the parts positi oned when the steerso ing wheel is turned toward the right, or in a clockwise direction; and Fig. .4; is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the parts of the rotary valve device positioned when the steering wheel is turned toward the left, or in a 001111- at terclockwise direction.

Referring to the drawing, the main shaft 11 of the steering mechanism carries a steeringwheel 12 having a tubular stem or sleeve 13 mounted on the shaft. For the purpose MD of connecting the'steering wheel to the shaft 11, the sleeve 13 is forme disposed slotted openings 14 into which project the oppositeends of a pin 15 mounted transversely in the shaft 11. In this way the 45 steering wheel is loosely keyed to the shaft nvention is to provide a ted steering device for new mnsnv. Assmnoa' no (i with diametrically PATENT orrlcs THE wns'rmeno'csn PENNSYLVANIA, A GORPGBATION OF EEBING DEVICE 1, 1928. Serial No. 311,730.

11, so that a small amount of rotary motion of one will not be transmitted to the other, as will be readily understood.

The sleeve .13 carries a gear 16 which meshes with a gear 17 on the stem'1 8 of a rotary valve 19 having a seat 20. L i

The rotary valve seat 20 in turn is provided with a gear 21 which meshes with the gear 22 of a pneumatic engine 23, of any approved type. The gear 21 also meshes with a gear 24 mounted on the shaft 11.

In operation, when the steering wheel is rotated in one direction, sa for instance, clockwise, the gear 17 will revolved by gear 16 to bring port 25 of thel rotary valve 19 into communication with passage 26 in the valve seat 20 (See Fig. 3).

With the parts thus positioned, fluid under pressure from a suitable source of supply will e conducted through pipe and passage 27,

chamber 28, port 25, passage 26, and pipe 29 to the engine 23, which is, in the present instance, dla ammatically shown.

- The englne 23 will now impart a rotary motion to the shaft 11, through gears 22, 21 and 24, at the same rate which the steering wheel 12 is being turned, and therefore the relative position of valve 19 on seat 20 will remain unchanged. 1

When rotation of the steering wheel 12 is stopped, engine 23 will continue to rotate shaft 11 in view of the loose connection between the shaft 11 and steering wheel heretofore referred to. Whereupon the engine 23 will turn the seat 20 of the rotary valve to lap passage 26 and thereby shut ed the supply of fluid to the engine. When the steering wheel is turned toward the left, gear 17 will be revolved by gear 16 to bring port 80 of the rotary valve 19 into communication with passage 31 in the valve seat20 (see Fig. 4).

With the par pressure which through pipe and passage 27, will be con- END CID

ducted through port 30, passage 31 and pipe 32 to the side of the engine 23 opposite to the side having the pipe 99- In this way the engine will be operated in a direction opposite to that first described to rotate the shaft 11, such operation continuing while the steering wheel 12 is being turned and being halted shortly after the movement of the wheel is stopped as has been heretofore described. ereupon the port 30 will be lapped by the seat 20 thereby shutting ofi the supply of fluid.

While one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claim.

Having now described my invention, what ll claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A vehicle steering mechanism comprising asteering shaft, a steering wheel having a sleeve mounted on said shaft and movable relatively to said shaft, a fluid pressure operated engine for rotatin said shaft, a valve device for controlling the fluid pressure for operating said engine comprising relatively movable valve members, a gear carried by said sleeve, a gear meshing with said sleeve gear for operating one of said valve members, a gear carried by said shaft, a gear operated by said engine, other valve member, said last mentioned gear meshing with the engine operated ear and the shaft gear, whereby the gear tor oper-' ating said other valve member serves as a gear to transmit motion from said engine to said shaft.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand, this first day of (lot, 1928.

ELLERY lit, FITCH,

and a gear for operating the 

